Burgess Hill Town Council held another well-attended Council Meeting on July 22nd that began with a presentation by Claire Fuller from the Pantry. Claire explained that the purpose of the Pantry, in contrast with the role of the nearby food bank in Church Walk, is to provide a long-term solution to the cost of living crisis in a role that compliments a food bank's task of providing an emergency short term solution. Claire stated that the Pantry aims to support 600 of the community's individuals, and that it currently shifts at least 1,200 items a week.
The presentation was focused on providing those struggling in the current economic climate with dignity, hope and choice. Claire discussed the Pantry's collaboration with Mid Sussex District Council's Homelessness Prevention Team, which appears weekly at the Pantry, and revealed plans to work together with the Impact Foundation to hold lessons on cooking, maths, literacy and cooking skills. Unfortunately, as is the case with the Burgess Hill Creative Community (previously known as the Kiln), the future of the building is threatened by New River's plans for the development of the Martlets. Claire stressed the need for the Pantry to receive sufficient financial support and have a secure location long-term.
In BHTC's Open Forum at the meeting, a resident asked about the state of the Marketplace indoor shopping centre. Numerous concerns have been raised with local councils regarding health and safety and the leaking glass ceiling. BHTC Leader Peter Williams explained that work has been carried out during night-time hours, and that he had been meeting regularly with Marketplace management. He added that Mid Sussex District Council had carried out a risk assessment, stressing that BHTC is not in a position to do more than it has regarding Marketplace. September was given as an estimated time for indoor seating to be returned to Marketplace. The resident expressed confusion about why Marketplace was deemed unsafe enough to remove seating and put up barriers on the one hand, while people were free to walk around inside on the other. Councillor Williams clarified that seating had been removed to make space for cherry pickers. He added that there are plans to add temporary covered seating by September, and that work should be finished by the end of October.
Another resident raised concerns about BHTC's communication with residents, and referred to a "distracting" billboard erected opposite Burgess Hill Station. Councillor Williams explained that he had provided the resident with any relevant information and appropriate departments to contact, and residents were told by the mayor that BHTC had objected to the billboard. BHTC was apparently surprised that the billboard turned out to be an LED screen, rather than a static screen with some illumination.
A resident asked BHTC if they could give a time frame for the town centre regeneration. As residents would soon find out from the MSDC report, the negotiations with New River and the proposed joint venture between the real estate investment trust and MSDC are still complex. The outcome of these discussions and what, if anything, will be delivered as promised to the Martlets remains to be seen.
Concerns were raised by a resident about several incidents in which maintenance workers from Glendale, a contractor recently taken on by MSDC to maintain its green spaces, had killed young hedgehogs with strimmers. Mid Sussex District Council Leader Robert Eggleston stated that he had raised the issue with MSDC officers on July 22nd. BHTC and MSDC Councillor Anne Eves said she had spoken with a MSDC officer, who had assured her that workers would stop strimming the edge of the field in which one of the incidents occurred, and that the contractor's workers would receive appropriate training. BHTC and MSDC councillor Matthew Cornish invited residents to submit questions to MSDC regarding the contractor, which can be asked at MSDC council meetings with or without the resident present.
Another resident raised the issue of the amount of overgrown verges in and around Burgess Hill, particularly regarding how much this attracts hedgehogs that could then end up in danger. The resident suggested hedgehog signs where they are more likely to be crossing the road. BHTC Mayor Janice Henwood stressed that the maintenance of most roadside verges is a West Sussex County Council duty, noting the county council's limited budget. Councillor Henwood argued that we may have to get used to more overgrown verges and appreciate the increase in wildflower meadows as a result. The resident also asked about the status and accessibility of the Burgess Hill Museum, which is currently stored in Cyprus Hall and only accessible through Burgess Hill Heritage and History Association meetings. The mayor emphasised that BHTC does what it can to support the Heritage and History Association.
To conclude the open forum, one resident praised the efficiency of the BHTC help point in addressing overgrown hedges, recommending that residents take photographs of areas that need attention and submit them to BHTC.
BHTC and WSCC councillor Stuart Condie gave an update on WSCC developments. He stressed the financial situation of WSCC, claiming that even if tax were raised by 5% WSCC would still have an annual deficit of 35,000,000. Councillor Condie added that the budget is due to be set within six months. He commented on potholes and overgrown paths, suggesting that maintaining potholes is not a statutory requirement of WSCC. WSCC's own website appears to differ from this view, and states the following:
"We have a statutory duty under the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the West Sussex highways, ensuring they are safe and can be used without obstruction.
We regularly inspect the county's roads to identify potholes and other problems. The frequency of the inspections depends on the type of road. Busier routes, such as ‘A’ and ‘B’ roads, are inspected monthly, whereas quieter routes are inspected less often."
Councillor Henwood suggested that obsessing over potholes and overgrown verges would require WSCC to use money that could otherwise be invested in education, despite local highway maintenance and education being allocated their own funding by the Department for Transport and the Department for Education respectively. Councillor Condie stressed that WSCC lacks funding from central government.
Education was highlighted as an issue, specifically regarding the unclear timescale for the delivery of Bedelands Academy. BHTC councillor Brenda Williams raised similar concerns about the delayed work at Woodlands Mead, to which Councillor Condie replied that he was unsure whether it would be ready to open in September. A resident asked whether any more houses will be built in Brookleigh until the Bedelands Academy is delivered. Councillor Condie highlighted discussion with the already struggling Burgess Hill Academy to temporarily take on more students. Bedelands Academy is currently expected to open in temporary accommodation on the BHA site in September 2026 before moving to its permanent location the following year.
A resident asked whether net zero initiatives should be high up on the agenda of local councils. BHTC and MSDC councillor Simon Hicks claimed that global warming is responsible for the increase in potholes. Similar claims have been made in the media, blaming "extreme heat" for the buckling of roads. However, such claims overlook other contributing factors; potholes are caused by water seeping through cracks into the road surface and softening the soil underneath, until traffic weakens the asphalt. Lack of flood defences, deforestation and overflowing drains are all contributing factors.
When the Burgess Hill Residents Association logged the number of heavy construction vehicles driving through Keymer Road/Folders Lane roundabout in May 2024, a total of 388 construction vehicles and lorries (excluding the likes of vans and pickup trucks) were counted. It is hard to imagine that the seemingly endless convoys of heavy construction vehicles travelling through the town centre, fuelled by high and exceeded housing targets, do not have a considerable impact on the durability of the town's roads. Councillor Hicks stressed the importance of net zero policies in mitigating climate change, despite carbon sinking trees being felled around Mid Sussex to make way for thousands of houses in addition to green spaces rather than brownfield sites being sacrificed to house large solar factories such as one recently approved in Cowfold.
The mayor noted that several consultations with BHTC had been ignored, such as proposals to name new roads after those named on the war memorial. The need to contact families of those on the memorial in order to do so was given as the reason for this proposal being rejected.
Councillor Eggleston gave a report on MSDC developments, mainly focusing on negotiations with New River and the development of the town centre. There are currently discussions about a possible joint venture between MSDC and New River in order to move development forward. Councillor Williams requested that BHTC would be kept updated on the development progress.
A resident asked for assurance that council tax will not increase to fund the proposed joint venture. Councillor Eggleton replied that it is a case of seeing how a joint venture limited liability partnership would be used to finance the development. The resident asked if the joint venture will have anything to do with public funding, but again no clear answer was given. Councillor Henwood stated that the journey was "ongoing".
Another resident asked what would happen if such a joint venture resulted in nothing happening. Councillor Eggleston stressed that MSDC is working on ensuring there is a successful outcome. He added that MSDC had been focused on mitigating risks as much as possible since discussions in December 2023 in order to meet government requirements. The district council leader said pre-conditions needed to be met for the joint venture to go ahead, and stressed that it would require the full support of the Mid Sussex District Council. Councillor Eves suggested residents write to councillors highlighting what they consider to be priorities in the Burgess Hill town centre redevelopment, expressing particular concern for the likes of the Pantry and BHCC that face being booted out of their current locations.
Councillor John Orchard asked if another developer can be brought in instead of New River. Councillor Eggleston clarified that NR does not function as a developer, and that the involvement of multiple developers and shareholders contributes to the complex and largely confidential nature of ongoing negotiations. He added regarding Councillor Eves' concerns that matters between the landlord and the tenant were confidential. A tenant handling plan is expected. A resident asked what the hold-up is with the whole town centre redevelopment, asking whether there is a Roman road in the way. Councillor Eggleston replied that there is a complicated statutory framework involved, and stressed that the hold-up is not related to the building work itself.
When the minutes from the last Finance Key Area Group were commented on, Councillor Cedric De Souza confirmed that a payment had been made for designs for Beehive despite the project currently being considered "on hold" by BHTC. Regarding the Grants Application Panel, Councillor Matthew Goldsmith announced plans to restrict the availability of grants to once a year, rather than twice a year as has long been the case. Two councillors voted against the recommendation. Councillor Goldsmith stated that BHTC was faced with difficult decisions due to the high demand for grants.
Councillor Williams reported on the "serious operating condition" of Burgess Hill Academy. Strikes erupted at schools linked to the University Of Brighton Academies Trust in July, after schools accused the trust of withholding much needed funds. The town council leader explained that the budget cuts resulted in a lack of teaching assistants and up-to-date computers that the school needs. Councillor Williams proposed a non-political working group or pressure group to try to ensure these issues are addressed, and stressed the need of BHTC activities in the interest of the community to become a permanent feature. Councillor Cornish asked whether BHTC would get involved with other schools experiencing similar difficulties, but Councillor Henwood stressed that the focus of the pressure group should be specifically on the Burgess Hill Academy and its urgent situation. The European Friendship Group, which relates to the twinned cities of Abbeville and Schmallenberg, was on the agenda. Councillor Eves proposed activities such as sports clubs and choirs, and said there was a mutual keenness in reviving exchanges. Cllrs Condie, Eves and Brenda Williams were appointed as BHTC representatives.
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